Everything that is great
and wonderful about Karishma Kapoor is in this film. She´s been a
very inconsistent performer and her filmography overflows with
horrendous movies with some really bad performances, but then there
is also Zubeidaa, which in itself is a reason enough for me to have a
soft spot for this Kapoor girl. True enough, she also had Fiza, but
there she was equaled by both Hrithik Roshan and Jaya Bachchan, and
the film had its weak points. Zubeidaa on the other hand is one of
those movies that are, according to me, near perfection.

As Wikipedia informs
us “The film is based on the life of the ill-fated actress Zubeidaa
Begum and the writer of this film Khalid Mohammed is her own son.”
That in itself gives the movie a unique feel, and indeed the pattern
of the movie captures this. The story of mother is step by step
rediscovered by her son, whom she supposedly left for her lover, only
to die in a plane crash few years later. However Rizwan (her filmy
son), believes there is much more to the tale and tirelessly keeps
looking for clues and information that would tell him the truth
nobody wants to talk about.

Zubeidaa, a daughter of a
wealthy and well-thought-of Muslim family, was a lively and
strong-willed girl with a mind of her own, and very much modern in
her desires. To act in films, to dance, to study abroad.... all this
she sets her mind to, but one by one her hopes are shattered by
authoritative father, who may be doting, but at the same time is
extremely dismissive to female independence (as is clearly seen in
the way his wife treats him – like a God, and thinking of herself
as worthless dust). Zubeidaa feels more and more depressed as her
father manipulates her and controls her life. Forcing her to marry,
forcing her to be divorced, he never asks what she wants. And
Zubeidaa bears it, though unhappily, until she actually falls in love
– with a Hindu raja.

Zubeidaa is really a story
of a woman, who knew what she wanted, was capable of extreme
sacrifice to get it, and accepting absolutely nothing less. A rather
unlucky character, destined to be always unhappy. Zubeidaa is
scripted with much feeling, unfolding in front of us in a compelling
way and nice pace, presenting some of the most difficult human
choices realistically. The whole cast is brilliant. The dignified
Queen, a father guarding the family honour and never forgiving those
who acted against his wishes, a mother in the shadow of her husband,
finding just as much courage to carry on, Zubeidaa´s prince
Charming, who loves her, but fails to understand her... all these
characters are brought to life by a joined effort of the script,
direction and the actors with utmost precision.

But it is Karishma Kapoor
as Zubeidaa who is the brightest gem of the movie. Never has she been
presented as beautifully, non of her other characters had such depth
or scope. She spent the 90s prancing around with Govinda and Akshay,
making faces in David Dhawan over the top comedies, wearing the
tightest, shortest skirts and doing some of those „PT dance
numbers“, but never has she had as much impact as in here, draped
in sarees and with abundant curls styled in a period way. Never
before or after did she act or looked better.

The music is weaved into
the narrative just as flawlessly, with several gorgeous compositions
by the one and only Rahman. Be it loving Dheeme Dheeme, or melodious
Mehndi Hai Rachnewali, they have a contemporary feel to them, but
still fit the era the film captures. The most poignant of the songs –
So Gaye Hain – which returns time and again throughout the film in
the background, is sung by Lata Mangeshkar. I never really liked
Lata´s voice in the 90s and on, not on actresses for sure, but there
are some songs, not really picturized on anyone, that she is perfect
for, and this is one of them. The main melody in itself, with our
without the lyrics, is enough to make one teary.

Zubeidaa remains one of
the movies I completely cried through, because it was just impossible
not to be effected by the turmoil and pain of a girl denied her
dreams, or mother separated from her child, and woman who believed
her happiness, earned with so much difficulty, is slipping away from
her.

4 comments:

With your great review I'm sure I should rewatch this movie! I saw "Zubeidaa" I think year ago and I felt something unique about this movie, some intriguing atmosphere of mystery. Karisma was really flawless, also Manoj and Rekha were good. I liked the episode with rajasthani authority, I don't know if I remebered it right? I think my English was too bad to enjoy "Zubeidaa" enough.